This is our O-tel (say it with a French accent, for it is Philly’s only French O-tel), the Sofitel Philadelphia. I get mocking rights since the pop-in-law-to-be is French and will soon be family!
Located in the heart of the city, the Sofitel is the cornerstone of the new French Quarter, just steps from Rittenhouse Square. The former Philadelphia Stock Exchange Building, this hotel infuses French flavor with American style. Many of the staff are French, as is the cuisine in the hotel’s full-service restaurant, Chez Colette. With 300 rooms of unusually large proportions, averaging 400 square feet, it markets itself as a 4½ star hotel. Amenities include large desks, three phones in each room, high-speed Internet access and French chocolates on the pillow nightly (um, count me in).
Unforrrrrrrrrtunately, the hotel is having a conference the weekend of our wedding, so the option of blocking rooms for our guests is unavailable, but I plan to warn out-of-towners in advance so they don’t end up having to dish out $300 to stay a million miles from us. The rates are about $200/night, which is still cheaper than most neighboring hotels with the discounted rates, PLUS this o-tel is totally our “style” and is rated the #1 hotel in Philadelphia on tripadvisor.com.
We will be staying in the Superior Room (king size) for four nights, which will include: two armchairs, landline high speed as well as wireless Internet (with a surcharge), a marble bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower and a separate bathtub.
Since we’re not taking our honeymoon until May of 2009, we decided to spoil ourselves during the week of the wedding by rooming there for four nights. I’ll be staying there by my lonesome on the eve of our wedding, since Mr. Candy Corn enjoys that whole not-seeing-the-bride-the-night-before tradition. I suppose I’ll have Betty White with me though, since the hotel allows dogs 
Betty White is not looking forward to being my #1 bachelorette. (She knows this will result in her posing for photos in hideous puppy clothes from the $1 bin at Target.)
Is anyone else sharing the bed with your most beloved pet on the evening before the wedding? You better believe I’d bring our bunnies and chinchillas to the hotel if they’d let me!Cue the obligatory pet photo!!
From left to right: Ethel Funk, Maude and Willie Nelson.
We’re staying at the Sofitel, too!
I think our beloved cat, the Dipster, will stay home in Queen Village.
Ohh…. that looks so lux!! Totally jealous! It will be so fun, especially the night before all by yourself (and the pup-pup!)
My parents booked us a room for our wedding night at a nice hotel, and I wish that I could stay there (solo) the night before too. But we’re going to Europe for our honeymoon, and the @#&^% exchange rate ate my spluge money.
Magnifique! And lucky Betty White to get to live it up in style— puppy “haute couture de Targé” notwithstanding…
meanwhile that same night, back at Chateaux Candy Corn…
Ethel Funk: Zut alors! Pourquoi “NO chinchillas & lapins allowed”?</i?
Maude: Iz le discrimination! Merde!
Willie Nelson: Sorry, but you know I cannot control le poop!
Oh I am so jealous! I stayed at the DC Sofitel for a job interview once and have yet to stay at a hotel as luxurious. Oh that bed…….
Oh, on a serious note– just make sure they don’t leave that chocolate on the pillow if Betty White is alone in the room.
I’m sure you know this, but chocolate is HIGHLY TOXIC for dogs.
this looks really nice….i wanted to stay alone my wedding nite, but hotel rates shot up due to the home college game that weekend, so i’ll be in a suite with many of my bridesmaids. at least i got a suite with a masterbedroom with a door i can close.
LMAO @ beanchar!
Geniale, magnifique! The Sofitel is beautiful. There’s a major convention the weekend of our wedding, too. The city will be swarming with nephrologists.
Beautiful hotel with awesome decor. Love hi they answer the phone in French, makes itfeel so sophisticated!
AGHH I love chinchillas!! I want a pair. I only have hamsters. Are they a lot of trouble?
I love the names of your pets! Too cute
I think we will be staying at hotel monoco in DC and they let you bring your rabbits *cue stamped of my 4 rabbits hopping on and jumping on everything* I wanted pics of the rabbits on our wedding day but since we are marrying at a nature preserve, they said no to them in the ceremony. So getting ready shots will include the fluffy bad ones.
Miss Candy Corn, Philadelphia
Age and Occupation: Senior Editor/Writer & Freelance Illustrator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Student
Engagement Date: September 1, 2004
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: May 6, 2008
Venue: Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology
About Me: I enjoy people watching (especially in New Jersey malls), obsessive collecting, drooling over contemporary art, browsing flea markets for vintage finds and eating an absurd amount of cheese. In my Philadelphia abode, I create mixed media artwork and one-of-a-kind home accessories in the company of my farmer-tanned fiancé, our Westiepoo (Betty White), our three rabbits (Cadbury, Willie Nelson and Applesauce) and our two frisky chinchillas (Ethel Funk and Maude).
The Sofitel in DC is one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever stayed at. I think you’ll love your stay!!
And our wedding night hotel DID allow dogs … so it was all I could do to keep Mr T from bringing Zoe along for the night. As much as I love her, I wanted to spend at least our wedding night sleeping in without the “Sheltie alarm” waking us for a walk in the a.m.!